Before You Start
Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) is where the city began. French settlers founded Ville-Marie here in 1642, and the district still holds many buildings from the French colonial period and the 19th century. It runs from rue McGill in the west to rue Saint-André in the east, with the St. Lawrence River on its southern edge. Along the river, the Old Port stretches for more than 2 km.
This route covers about 3 to 4 km, with a few stops that are worth going inside. Allow half a day at a relaxed pace, or a full day if you visit museums. The nearest metro stations are Place-d'Armes, Champ-de-Mars and Square-Victoria–OACI, all on the edge of the old city.
Stop 1: Place d'Armes
Start at Place-d'Armes metro station and walk south a couple of blocks to Place d'Armes, the historic main square. On its south side stands Notre-Dame Basilica, a Gothic Revival church completed in the 19th century, with a facade designed by the New York architect James O'Donnell. The interior, with its deep blue ceiling and carved wood, is the main reason to go in; entry is ticketed.
Next to the basilica is the Saint-Sulpice Seminary, the oldest surviving building in Montreal. Around the square, the former Bank of Montreal head office and the Aldred Building, an Art Deco tower, show the district's later role as the city's financial centre.
Stops 2 and 3: Pointe-à-Callière and Rue Saint-Paul
Walk southwest down to Pointe-à-Callière, the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History. It is built over archaeological remains of the city's first settlement, and its underground galleries let you walk through excavated foundations and an old collector sewer. It is the best place in the district to understand how Montreal grew.
From the museum, walk east along Rue Saint-Paul, one of the oldest streets in the city. It is narrow, partly cobbled and lined with 19th-century stone buildings now used as galleries, shops and restaurants. It is the most atmospheric street in Old Montreal and runs almost the full length of the district.
Stop 4: Place Jacques-Cartier and City Hall
Turn north up Place Jacques-Cartier, a sloping square lined with restaurant terraces in summer. At its top stands Nelson's Column, erected in 1809 and described as the city's oldest public monument. Across rue Notre-Dame is Montreal City Hall (Hôtel de Ville), completed in the 1870s in a French Second Empire style.
Opposite City Hall, the Château Ramezay is an early 18th-century colonial residence that now houses a history museum.
Stop 5: Bonsecours
Walk back down to rue Saint-Paul and continue east to Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, known as the sailors' church, with model ships hanging inside. Next door, the long, domed Bonsecours Market building was once the city's main public market and has also served as City Hall. It now holds shops and event spaces.
Stop 6: The Old Port Waterfront
Cross rue de la Commune to the Old Port promenade. The port was redeveloped as a public waterfront in the early 1990s and now has walking and cycling paths along the river.
- Clock Tower – at the eastern end, completed in 1922 as a memorial to sailors. Next to it, Clock Tower Beach (opened 2012) is an urban beach for sitting by the water; swimming is not the point.
- La Grande Roue de Montréal – opened in 2017 and the tallest Ferris wheel in Canada.
- Montreal Science Centre – on King Edward Quay, with interactive exhibits and an IMAX theatre.
- Lachine Canal – the Old Port sits at the canal's eastern end. The canal path continues west for cyclists and walkers who want to keep going.
End at Square-Victoria–OACI or Place-d'Armes metro, or follow the canal path west.
Practical Tips
- Season: The Old Port is busiest from late spring to early autumn, when terraces and waterfront attractions are open. In winter, the port has an outdoor skating rink, but many seasonal businesses close.
- Surfaces: Cobblestones are uneven. Wear flat, sturdy shoes, and expect ice in winter.
- Opening hours: Museums and the basilica keep their own hours and close on some days. Check before you go, especially on Mondays and holidays.
- Food: Restaurants on Place Jacques-Cartier are the most tourist-oriented and the busiest. Streets a block or two away are usually quieter.
